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From: tilley@acl.kodak.com (David Tilley)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Is this YOUR mind?
Message-ID: <1990Dec18.004948.9351@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 18 Dec 90 00:49:48 GMT
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Keith writes:
>  >     Also, another question: does the Nichiren school teach that
>  >, full enlightenment is possible within this lifetime?
>
>That is the idea for practicing Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, to gain
>full and complete enlightenment in this lifetime. With the other Buddhisms,
>one won't gain complete enlightenment and if it takes more than one
>lifetime to do it, it won't happen either.
>
>Actually, chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to the Gohonzon (fundamental
>object of worship, enscribed by Nichiren, and all believers have a
>copy, enscribed only by the High Priest, in their home) one is actually
>in the state of Buddhahood. Here we need to talk about The Great Teacher
>T`ien-T`ai Chi-CHe (Chih-i) (517?-597) in China, and his doctrine
>of ichinen sanzen, 3000 life-conditions in a single moment.

There are many sects that aim at complete enlightenment in this lifetime. 
Zen for one. Dogen speaks of the same idea of pratice that Nichiren does. 
Except that the practice is different. Dogen reccomends zazen or "sitting" 
rather than chanting Nam-Myoho-Rege-Kyo, though by no means does he protest 
against chanting either.
 
Dogen did say that as you practice there is no "other" Buddha. You are Buddha. 
 
thanks.
dave